How to Write a Standout Job Inquiry Email in 2024
There may not be a job opening advertised, but that doesn‘t mean there isn‘t an opportunity waiting for you. If there‘s a company you‘d love to work for, consider sending them a speculative job inquiry email. When crafted thoughtfully, this proactive outreach strategy can open doors, get you noticed by hiring managers, and potentially lead to your dream role.
What is a job inquiry email?
A job inquiry email is a message you send to a company you‘re interested in working for to introduce yourself, express your interest in joining their team, and open up a dialogue about potential opportunities. It‘s a proactive approach to tap into the "hidden job market" of openings that may not be formally advertised.
The goal is to get on the radar of hiring managers or department heads, showcase your relevant skills and experience, demonstrate your knowledge of and passion for the company, and ultimately secure an exploratory interview or meeting.
When to send a job inquiry email:
- When you have a strong desire to work for a particular company
- When you have skills and experience directly relevant to the company
- When you‘ve exhausted formal job postings and want to unlock hidden opportunities
- When you have a contact at the company who can pass your email along or provide an introduction
- When you want to get your foot in the door early at a startup or rapidly growing company
How to send a standout job inquiry email:
- Do your research
Before reaching out, thoroughly research the company. Review their website, blog, social media, and news mentions. Get to know their mission, values, products, services, leadership team, culture, and recent announcements. Follow them on LinkedIn and engage with their content.
The more deeply you understand the company, the more tailored and impactful your outreach will be. You‘ll be able to speak knowledgeably about their business, personalize your message, and demonstrate your genuine interest.
Look for any mutual connections you may have with current employees, whether via your university, past employers, or professional associations. A shared contact who can provide a warm introduction or put in a good word can help you get noticed.
- Find the right contact
Take the time to identify the best person to send your inquiry to, whether it‘s the hiring manager for your desired department, the head of HR or talent acquisition, or even a C-level executive for a smaller startup. Avoid sending your note to a general "[email protected]" address, as it‘s more likely to get lost in the shuffle.
Tools like LinkedIn, ZoomInfo and Hunter.io can help you find email addresses. If you have a mutual contact, consider asking them for an introduction. You can also engage directly with company leaders on social media or at industry events to get on their radar before reaching out.
- Craft a compelling subject line
Your email subject line is like a newspaper headline — it should be concise yet compelling, grabbing the reader‘s attention and enticing them to open your message. Avoid generic lines like "Job Inquiry" or "Résumé Attached." Instead, try to spark their curiosity while keeping it professional.
Some ideas:
- Quick question from an experienced [job title]
- I‘m inspired by [Company]‘s mission to [mission]
- My ideas for [growing/improving] [Company]‘s [product/service]
- [Mutual contact] recommended I reach out
- [Name], do you have 5 minutes to discuss [industry topic]?
Keep subject lines short, ideally under 50 characters. Personalize it if you can with the contact‘s first name or company name. You can also experiment with different options to see which get the highest open rates.
- Open with a personal greeting
As much as possible, try to address your email to a specific individual, using their name in your greeting. "Dear [First Name]" works well. Avoid stiff, formal greetings like "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam."
If you have a mutual contact, mention them right away: "[Mutual contact] recommended I reach out to you."
Express your enthusiasm for the company, and briefly explain why you‘re writing. This opening line sets the tone for the rest of your email, so make it count.
- Introduce yourself
In the first paragraph, say who you are, what you do, and why you‘re reaching out. This is your chance to pique their interest and establish credibility. Keep it concise yet informative.
Some ideas:
- I‘m a [job title] with [# years] of experience in [industry/specialty].
- I‘ve long admired [Company]‘s innovative approach to [product/service].
- I‘m reaching out to explore opportunities to contribute my skills in [area] to help [Company] achieve its goals.
- I recently read about [Company]‘s [news/achievement] and wanted to congratulate you on this success!
Convey your enthusiasm and passion for the company or industry. Mentioning something timely or specific about the company that prompted your outreach will show that this isn‘t a mass email you‘re blasting out.
- Highlight your value
In the second paragraph, briefly highlight your relevant expertise, skills, experience and accomplishments. Focus on the value you can bring to the company rather than your own wants and needs. Quantify your achievements with stats, numbers or percentages to give more weight to your claims.
Some ideas:
- In my current role at [Company], I [specific achievement] which resulted in [quantified result].
- My background in [specialty] has equipped me with skills in [skill 1], [skill 2] and [skill 3] that could help [Company] [achieve goal].
- I recently [specific accomplishment] and believe I could apply this experience to help [Company] succeed in [area].
Keep this section laser-focused on what‘s most directly relevant to the company and role you‘re targeting. Edit out any extraneous details. You can always expand on your background if you secure a meeting.
- Demonstrate your passion
Show that you‘re not just looking for any job — you‘re passionate about this company and industry in particular. Convey your enthusiasm for their mission, products, services, or culture. Mention something specific that resonates with you.
Some ideas:
- I‘m inspired by [Company]‘s mission to [specific mission] and would love to contribute my skills to help achieve this vision.
- As an avid user of [Company]‘s products, I have some ideas for how to [improve/grow] them that I‘d love to share.
- [Company]‘s commitment to [specific value] aligns perfectly with my own values and passion for [industry/specialty].
Demonstrating your genuine interest and aligned values will help you stand out from other candidates and make the hiring manager want to learn more about you.
- Provide a call-to-action
Close your email with a clear call-to-action that makes it easy for the hiring manager to take the next step. Be polite yet direct in expressing your interest in connecting to explore opportunities.
Some ideas:
- I‘ve attached my resume for your review. If my skills and experience seem like a potential fit, I‘d welcome the chance to meet for an informational interview to learn more about [Company] and any upcoming needs on your team.
- Please let me know if you‘d be open to a brief exploratory call to discuss how I could contribute to [Company]‘s goals. I‘m happy to work around your schedule.
- If you‘re the appropriate person to speak with, I‘d appreciate the opportunity to tell you more about my background and passion for [industry]. If not, could you please point me in the right direction?
Make sure to attach your resume or include a link to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio. Thank the person for their time and consideration, and let them know you look forward to hearing back from them.
- Keep it concise
While your job inquiry email should be substantive, it shouldn‘t be a novel. Keep the message concise, no more than 3-5 short paragraphs. Put the most important information on top, as hiring managers may read it on a mobile device or skim it quickly between meetings.
If you have a lot of information to convey, consider creating a digital portfolio or website that showcases your work in more depth, and include the link in your email. You can expand on the details if you secure a meeting or interview.
- Perfect your tone
An effective job inquiry email should strike a balance between professional and enthusiastic. Use a tone that‘s warm, friendly and confident, without being overly casual or pushy.
Convey your genuine passion for the company and industry, and let your personality shine through, while still keeping the overall message polished and businesslike.
Avoid overly formal or stiff language, clichés or jargon. Instead, aim to sound like a real human who‘s excited about this opportunity and confident in the value you can bring.
- Proofread carefully
Before hitting send, carefully proofread your email for any spelling, grammar or formatting errors. Even a small typo can undermine your credibility and make you look sloppy or careless.
Read the email out loud to catch any awkward phrasing. Consider installing a tool like Grammarly to catch mistakes or polish your writing. You may also want to have a mentor, colleague or friend review the email to provide feedback and catch any issues you may have missed.
- Follow up
After sending your initial outreach, wait about a week, then follow up with a polite email reiterating your interest if you haven‘t heard back. Keep it brief, mentioning that you wanted to make sure your original message was received and restating your interest in connecting.
If you still don‘t get a response after another week, you can try reaching out through another channel like LinkedIn or Twitter. However, know when to back off gracefully to avoid seeming pushy or desperate.
Even if this particular outreach doesn‘t result in an immediate opportunity, you‘ve still made a valuable new connection that could lead to other opportunities down the line. Stay engaged with the company on social media, and look for other chances to interact and provide value.
Real-world examples
Sometimes the best way to understand how to write an effective job inquiry email is to see real examples. Here are a few that resulted in meetings and ultimately job offers for the senders:
Example 1: Education technology company
Subject: Experienced data scientist interested in [Company]
Hi [Name],
I‘m a data scientist with over 6 years of experience using machine learning to improve student outcomes in EdTech. I‘ve long admired [Company]‘s mission to [mission statement] and innovative use of AI in products like [product name].
In my current role at [Current Company], I developed ML algorithms that increased student engagement with our learning platform by 40%, as well as predictive models that identified at-risk students with 95% accuracy, enabling teachers to provide targeted support. I‘m confident I could apply this experience to help [Company] achieve its goals.
I‘m reaching out to explore data science opportunities on your team, as I‘m passionate about using my skills to expand access to quality education. If my background is a fit for your current or future hiring needs, I‘d welcome the chance to tell you more.
I‘ve attached my resume for reference. Please let me know if you‘re open to a brief introductory call. I‘m happy to work around your schedule.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hopefully connecting soon!
[Your Name]Example 2: Sustainable fashion startup
Subject: Quick question from a [industry] expert
Dear [Name],
I‘m a big fan of [Company]‘s sustainable, ethically-made apparel and have been following your growth closely. Congratulations on your recent [funding/revenue/product launch] milestone!
With over a decade of experience in the [industry], I‘ve helped brands like [notable clients] bring socially responsible products to market. As head of product development at [Current company], I built a network of fair-trade suppliers and oversaw the launch of our highest-selling sustainable collection to date, driving a 55% increase in revenue.
I‘m reaching out because I‘d love to explore ways to lend my skills in [specialty 1], [specialty 2] and [specialty 3] to help [Company] grow and achieve its mission of [mission statement]. I‘m passionate about working at the intersection of fashion and sustainability, and [Company] is at the top of my dream employer list.
If you‘re open to it, I‘d be grateful for a short meeting to learn more about [Company]‘s current priorities and share a few ideas for [business area]. Please let me know if there‘s a convenient time to connect.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Example 3: Marketing agency
Subject: Content marketing collaboration with [Mutual Contact]?
Hi [Name],
[Mutual Contact] suggested I reach out to you. I‘m a content strategist who has been following [Agency]‘s groundbreaking work for [notable client], and I‘m impressed by your data-driven approach to storytelling.In my current role at [Company], I revamped our content strategy to align with SEO and funnel optimization best practices, resulting in a 3X increase in organic blog traffic and 50% more marketing qualified leads. I also conceptualized and managed an award-winning interactive infographic for our client [Client name] which was featured in [notable publication].
I‘m writing to explore opportunities to bring my content strategy, SEO and visual storytelling skills to [Agency]. If you have a few minutes to spare, I‘d love to hear your perspective on [industry trend] and discuss how I could potentially support your team‘s great work.
No worries if the timing isn‘t right – I‘m happy to keep in touch and reconnect down the line as well. Either way, keep up the brilliant work!
Cheers,
[Your Name]
Key Takeaways
Reaching out proactively to companies you admire can unlock hidden job opportunities and get your foot in the door ahead of other candidates. The key is to craft a compelling, personalized outreach email that grabs the hiring manager‘s attention and makes a strong case for why you‘re worth considering for their team.
To recap, here are the key steps to writing a standout job inquiry email:
- Research the company thoroughly
- Find the right contact person
- Craft an attention-grabbing subject line
- Start with a personalized greeting
- Introduce yourself and establish credibility
- Highlight your relevant skills and value
- Demonstrate your passion for the company
- Provide a clear call-to-action
- Keep the message concise
- Strike the right tone
- Proofread carefully
- Follow up graciously
With a tailored, well-written job inquiry email, you‘ll be well on your way to earning a chance to tell the hiring manager more about why you‘re the perfect fit for their team. Good luck!